milligan



(No Model.)

H. C. MILLIGAN.

LADYS sHoPPING BAG.

Patented Aug. 16, 1892* ITL E11-[Lur- Cim/Mmm Wil-LE E E E E 0M/w( @0a/My* me Noms persas co1, wom-uma.. msnmnou. n. c.

IINTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

HENRY C. MILLIGAN, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEI/V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO RUDOLPH WOLFF da OO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LADYS SHOPPING-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,116, dated August 16, 1892.

Application iiled February 25, 1892. Serial No. 422,806. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. MILLIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladies Shopping-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The ladys shopping-bag is an article which varies in style from year to year. An ordinary form in the past has been a leather bag in the form of a satchel with an expanding mouth at the top, to which is applied some form of lock or snap-fastening. This kind of bag has been greatly developed and great attention has been given to the fastening device, many different varieties having been employed as the caprice of fashion or the desire for a more secure lock has dictated. Lately, however, there has come into fashion a form of bag in which the lower part of the bag is made of leather and the upper part of some fabric, such as silk or satin. The upper edge of the fabric part is provided with a hem or casing for drawing-cords, whereby the mouth of the bag can be drawn or gathered together. Where these drawing-cords are used as the handles whereby the bag is carried on the ladys arm it is obviously necessary to remove the bag from the wearers arm before access can be had to the interior of the bag. NVhen so removed, access is had to the bag by placing the fingers of both hands in the mouth of the bag and pullingirsmouth open, the drawing-cords entering the casing as the mouth is expanded. This operation is inconvenient and is apt to result inthe dropping of the bag and spilling its contents.

My improvement relates to this class of bags; and it consists in providing below the drawing cords or handles in the edge of the fabric part of the bag an independent side opening or pocket, whereby access can be had to the interior of the bag Without detaching the bag from the wearers arm or pulling open its top.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure I represents my improved shopping-bag in front elevation. Fig. II is a side elevation of the same. Fig. III is a vertical section.

In Fig. I the bag is shown closed, and in Fig. II its top is expanded, so as to more fully show the side pocket or opening. The lower` part 1 of the bag is made of leather and the upper part of some silken or other fabric. The top of the fabric part is provided with the usual tubular casing 3 to receive the drawing cords or strings 4. The construction is such, as will be readily perceived, as to gather the top tightly together on pulling the drawing-strings out, as shown in Fig. I, while by placing the fingers within the mouth of the bag and pressing outward the drawing-strings are drawn into the casing and the mouth of the bag expanded, so as to permit access to its interior.

The drawing-strings 4 are used for carrying the bag, and it will be seen that with the bag in position on the one arm of the wearer, as indicated in Fig. I, access cannot ordinarily be had to the interior of the bag without removing the bag from the wearers arm and placing the fingers within the mouth, as above described. It is in doing away with this difficulty that my invention lies. I provide, preferably on one edge of the bag, as indicated in Fig. II, an opening 5, which may open directly into the main body of the bag or may have or give access to a separate pocket 6, as indicated in Fig. III. In either case the interior of the bag proper is accessible to the wearer without the removal of the bag from the arm of the wearer.

In some forms of my invention I prefer not to have the top of the bag opened at all and may tie around it a permanent ribbon or bow, which serves the additional purpose of ornamentation.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A ladys shopping-bag having the lower leather part l, the upper fabric part 2, the drawing and carrying cords or handles 4, and an independent side openingin the edge of the fabric part of the bag above the leather and of the fabriepart of the bag above the leather below the drawing-cords, substantially as and part and below the drawing; and carrying 1o for the purpose set forth. oord s, substantially as described.

2. A ladys shopping-bag having the lower HENRY C. MILLIGAN. 5 leather part l, the upper fabric part 2, the Wfitnesses: I

drawing and carrying cords or handles 4, a F. E. lVIOKLIN, Side pocket, and an independent side open- M. L. ALLEN,

ing 5 to the side pocket, located in the edge J. H. FREEMAN. 

